# Nested Virtualization Support

Nested virtualization implies running a virtual machine inside of another virtual machine.

{% hint style="info" %}
**Note**: This functionality is only available on Intel Macs, provided that the host virtual machine is configured to use the Parallels Hypervisor.
{% endhint %}

To toggle between the Apple's and Parallels's hypervisors, do the following:

1. Open Parallels Desktop, right-click on the required virtual machine and choose **Configure**.
2. Switch to the **Hardware** tab and choose **CPU & Memory** from the list on the left.
3. Click **Advanced**, and use the **Hypervisor** drop-down menu to choose **Parallels**.
4. Check the **Enable nested virtualization** box.
5. Click **OK**.

<figure><img src="https://642364226-files.gitbook.io/~/files/v0/b/gitbook-x-prod.appspot.com/o/spaces%2FNS18wNNEob8E86PpkwMT%2Fuploads%2F7MJd5AloArOFmgHqEndm%2FScreenshot%202024-01-25%20at%2012.50.53.png?alt=media&#x26;token=ac4922ba-234c-4859-a6da-08abd6e2fe23" alt="" width="563"><figcaption></figcaption></figure>

### Typical Use Scenarios

When enabled, this functionality allows you to run:

* Hyper-V virtual machines inside Windows 8, Windows 10, and Windows Server 2012 virtual machines;
* VMware ESXi virtual machines;
* Xen and kernel-based virtual machines in versions of Linux that support Xen and KVM.

{% hint style="danger" %}
**Note:** Nested virtualization may dramatically reduce the performance of both host macOS and virtual machines.
{% endhint %}

If you use Parallels virtual machines to build, debug, and test applications, enable nested virtualization to install and work in:

* Android emulator for Visual Studio;
* iPhone emulator for Visual Studio;
* Xamarin.Android;
* Android Studio;
* Embarcadero RAD Studio;
* Docker for Windows;
* Microsoft Visual Studio + TwinCat 3 (support for TwinCat 3 is being tested, and there may be some bugs).